The 2007 General Election in Kenya and Its Aftermath: The Role of Local Language Media

Abstract

Political parties in Kenya reached a fragile but potentially historic agreement in March 2008 paving the way for an end to the violence that has wracked the country. The Kenyan government and international observers accused some media organizations, particularly local language radio stations, of fanning the violence. Based on a series of 20 semistructured interviews with senior media figures in Kenya, this article analyzes the role of the media in the lead up to and during the recent crisis.